Question

After a while a white, slimy amount of film has built-up along
the top and bottom of my lips.

I have tried everything from lip salve and non-lanolin products
to lip-gloss, as a desperate measure.

Is there anything you can do to help me? I get very
self-conscious when this happens.

Answer

Saliva will dry on and around the lips to leave a residual layer
of mucus coating the skin, if you lick them repeatedly.

This is probably what is happening to you and this is certainly
harmless. So, your lip-licking habit will not cause any damage.

There are a number of irksome and irritating conditions that may
create a desire to moisten the lips frequently.

Probably the most common of these is sun or windburn, which
leads to dryness and cracking.

Young people, usually women, frequently develop a bit of
dermatitis around the
mouth, called perioral dermatitis and this can be made much worse if it is
treated with steroid creams.

Then there is candida, which is a yeast infection, it often
takes a hold at the edges of the mouth to develop a shallow crack in the
corners; these feel dry and itchy making you want to lick your lips often.

Your doctor can offer treatment for these infections. If you are
in good general health and you have no concerns about having acquired any
infections or
sexually transmitted
disease, all you need to do is apply a soft water-resistant lip balm.

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